SHOULD YOU USE HASHTAGS ON FACEBOOK? (2022)

During free consultations, it seems like my most frequently asked question of 2021 was, “should you use hashtags on Facebook?” If they are used correctly and you see a return, then yes. Almost every day I see people botching their copy on Facebook with incorrect hashtag etiquette. I also see people using hashtags on Facebook with zero strategy. This is not only painful to see but it also hinders your engagement and ultimately your reach.

In this blog, I’ll break down when to use hashtags, how many hashtags to use, and tips to using hashtags correctly on Facebook in 2022.

WHEN SHOULD I USE HASHTAGS ON FACEBOOK?

First of all, only use hashtags when they are relevant. Avoid using hashtags that have nothing to do with your post, business, or industry. Here are a few popular ways hashtags are used on Facebook with specific examples for each.

1. Current event or happening now – #Christmas or #SuperBowl
2. Trending – #FreeBrittany or #SquidGame
3. Humor or sarcasm – #PizzaIsLife or #NotTodaySatan
4. Product or branding – #GalaxyZFlip3 or #RayBanStories
5. Challenge – #MannequinChallenge or brand-specific challenges like Cheetos’ #ItWasntMe. As a refresher, this challenge originated from Cheetos’ “big game” commercial featuring Ashton & Mila with music by Shaggy.
6. Conversation starters – #CancelCulture, #GenderInequality, #GivingTuesday, #SmallBusinessSaturday, or #MentalHealthAwareness. These are hashtags usually used to spark a conversation, promote a cause, movement, or social issue.

WHAT IS HASHTAG LOADING?

Just because Facebook hashtags are searchable doesn’t mean that loading 30 hashtags on your post will increase your reach, clicks, or engagement. In fact, scrollers of the feed prefer a clean post with less hashtags. Hashtag loading is an eyesore, and it is seen as spammy. The worst use of hashtags is when brands throw a crapload of hashtags on their post and only 5 of the 30 used are relevant to the business or topic. Several leaders in the social media world have done studies proving that the less hashtags used the better.

WHAT IS THE 0-2 RULE?

In a study by Social Bakers, it was found that the number of hashtags used on a single post correlates with Facebook engagement.

• 1 or 2 hashtags averaged 593 interactions.
• 3 to 5 hashtags averaged 416 interactions.
• 6 to 10 hashtags averaged 307 interactions.
• More than 10 hashtags averaged 188 interactions.

WHAT DO THE BIG BRANDS DO?

There’s a reason why big brands either don’t use hashtags at all or use them sparingly. You bet your ass these brands already have done the research and have analyzed the effectiveness of their social media strategies including the use of hashtags.

• Facebook, er’, I mean META

  Check out the new Facebook, Meta, and see how they are using hashtags on their own platform. Spoiler alert, they rarely use hashtags. When they have used hashtags, it is to promote #RayBanStories, #GivingTuesday, and #TogetherAgain. Which fall within the top 6 reasons mentioned above. 

• Samsung

  One of the most followed brands on Facebook, Samsung, sticks to the 0-2 rule. Samsung’s last few hashtags mentioned were to promote their products #GalaxyZFlip3, #GalaxyWatch, and #GalaxyS21. 

• Instagram

  Owned by Facebook and recognized as the king of hashtags, Instagram, also sticks to the 0-2 rule on Facebook. In their post on December 28^th, 2021, they even mentioned top hashtags on Instagram which is an interesting find. 

WHAT DOES SLICK RAVEN MARKETING DO?

Slick Raven rarely uses hashtags unless they fit within the top 6 reasons when hashtags are beneficial. If you want to try hashtags on Facebook, test them out and analyze the data. If you don’t intend on watching the insights from posts maybe just skip hashtags all together.

ADDITIONAL QUICK HASHTAG TIPS:

If you are clueless about hashtags all together these quick tips can help you learn proper etiquette and best practices.

• Avoid spaces such as #Lets Go Packers
• Make hashtags accessible for everyone and use #CamelCase not all #lowercase
• Avoid #Excessive use of #Hashtags #Within your #Sentence
• Shorter the hashtag the better

Want to learn more digital marketing strategies & tips? Follow us on Facebook! If you’d like to meet up to discuss either our services or for a free consultation, I’m all for it! Zoom or in person!